The director general of the Foreign Ministry, Shlomo Avineri, extended congratulations to The Netherlands Ambassador Christian Arriens for the successful rescue of Dutch hostages held by South Moluccan terrorists in Holland last week. He stressed that Israel approved the bold action by Dutch forces without taking a stand on the national aspirations of the South Moluccan.
Avineri said that Israel’s “bitter experience” was that a government that is concerned for the lives of its citizens takes risks to save them. He was referring to Israel’s rescue of 100 hijack hostages at Entebbe Airport in Uganda last July 4. He expressed Israel’s regrets for the lives lost as a result of the rescue operation in Holland.
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